Now that the holidays are over, I might actually think about doing some shopping for myself. They say the best time to shop is after the season is over, or in this case, after the holidays. After all, everything is on sale and usually you can get coupons for an extra discount.

One thing I’ve noticed since I left the corporate world is that my wardrobe and fashion sense has taken a backseat. Quite a backseat, in fact. There was a time when I may have been in the running for best dressed, but those days are long gone. I’m not much of a shopper, you see, and since my current work attire consists solely of a white chef coat, white apron and black chef pants, there’s no reason for me to look too deep in the aisles at Saks Fifth Avenue or Neiman Marcus.

Don’t get me wrong. Although you won’t see me shopping too much for myself, I still know what looks good. I’m not THAT much of a cave woman. I still like to rock it in my 7 Jeans and black fur-lined boots. (Okay, the jeans were a present from Tom because I just won’t spend that kind of money on myself).

I have to admit I’m not an easy person to shop for. I literally don’t want anything. Gift cards are great, but that’s the extent of it. If I want something, I would have already bought it myself. So when you ask me what I want for Christmas or my birthday, you will always get the same response – “nothing.” And I’m serious about that. I’m not trying to be difficult. I’m not trying to be coy. I’m not trying to be anything. It’s just that I’m at a place in life where I just don’t need “stuff.” I don’t need another widget. Do you know where my widgets end up? In the box going to Goodwill.

But…every now and again, I do admit I yearn for something trendy. Something that says “Hey, you still got it going on. You still know how to work it.” I recently had one of those moments.

Tom and I were recently at the Mall of America during one of the post-holiday-sales trips. At one point, I decided to go look for boots. I love the cosmopolitan look that a nice pair of boots can give you. I like the style it creates. The look of couture. The look of sophistication. This time, I thought to myself. THIS time, I will buy me a pair of THOSE boots. You know of which I speak. Those boots that you would see a celebrity wear while meeting a girlfriend for coffee, all the while pretending not to be annoyed by the paparazzi. Ah, yes. This time I will buy those boots, not the mom boots like I usually do.

As we got near the department, I quickly eyed all the selections available. I saw boots of various colors, with heels, without heels, with buckles, with no buckles, you name it. I spent all of 15 minutes looking. Remember, I’m not a shopper. By the time we left the department store, I had found a pair of boots I liked and looked forward to spending the rest of the winter in them. With my mom boots in tow, we headed home.

Okay, you read right. Mom boots. I know, I know. I’m all talk. At the end of the day, that’s what I feel most comfortable in – and they really were cute. But NEXT time, however. Next time, I swear I’ll get me a pair of those boots.